Pick up Truck Collides With BNSF Train
(Le Mars) — The crash of a Burlington Northern – Santa Fe train and a pickup truck earlier this morning (Friday) sent one person to the hospital. 43 year old Carrie Pfeil was driving a 2010 Dodge pickup was east-bound crossing the tracks about two miles southwest of Le Mars on 200th Street when she collided with the south-bound train shortly after 8:00 a.m. The train was carrying tanker cars filled with crude oil. The train hit the truck, spinning it around shattering the truck’s engine, and in the process pushing it off the crossing. The truck is listed as a total loss. There was no leakage of oil from the train. The driver was extricated by Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department and was transported to Floyd Valley hospital, then airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. Pfeil was conscious at the time of the rescue, but had suffered injuries, although non life-threatening. The Iowa Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation.
Natural Gas Leak At Hinton
(Hinton) — A natural gas pipeline leak on Friday morning led to the evacuation of some Hinton residents. Hinton Fire Chief Chad Beck explains the situation.
Listen to
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There was no fire with the gas leak and by 10:00 a.m. the ruptured gas line had been shut off with MidAmerican officials working to repair the gas line. Residents were allowed to return to their homes later in the morning.
Gartner Files Lawsuit Against Iowa Public Radio
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines businessman has filed a lawsuit against the Iowa Public Radio board, alleging members held an improper private meeting.
The Des Moines Register reports (dmreg.co/15oUfgO) Michael Gartner – a former Board of Regents member who owns the Iowa Cubs baseball team – filed the suit in Polk County District Court this week. Gartner argues the board violated state public meeting rules when it met privately in December.
That meeting came before the board fired the former chief executive in February.
Gartner’s suit seeks a declaration that Iowa Public Radio is subject to state open-meetings laws. He also wants a judge to review minutes from the December meeting and release the material to the public as requested.
The board didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Cedar Rapids Prepares For Flooding
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett says the city is doing everything “humanly possible” to protect itself from the ongoing flooding of the Cedar River.
City officials said at a news conference Friday that they have erected temporary flood barriers, filled thousands of sandbags to protect homes and businesses, and voluntarily evacuated 10 homes in
one particularly low-lying neighborhood. They’re also deploying a system of pumps and plugs to manage water levels along the river, which caused a historic flood in 2008.
City officials say more steps could be necessary depending on how much rainfall comes Friday. The river is projected to crest Saturday at 19.8 feet.
Some parks are also closed due to flooding. The fire department is moving out of a temporary firehouse used by one of its engines.
Websites Created To Help Flooding Victims
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Two new websites are offering support to Iowa residents in areas hit by recent storms and flooding.
Gov. Terry Branstad and the state Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division have set up a Tumblr page with Iowa flood information. The site will gather reports from state
agencies, news outlets and residents. It can be found at www.IowaFloodCentral.tumblr.com .
U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley has also established a site that will provide information on resources for those impacted by flooding and offer assistance from Braley’s staff. That site can be found at
www.braley.house.gov/flood-resources.
Boil Order For Kellogg Now Lifted
KELLOGG, Iowa (AP) – The Department of Natural Resources says a boil advisory in the small central Iowa city of Kellogg has been lifted.
The city and DNR recommended Sunday that residents boil their drinking water after city wells were flooded by heavy rainfall, potentially causing the water to be contaminated by bacteria.
Since then, water samples have shown the water is safe to drink, prompting officials to lift the advisory Friday.
Kellogg is a city of about 600 people in Jasper County.
